"Who knows? Anyways, I have never seen Bai Zihan being taught by soone, nor did he ever ntion it."
Mu Yuelan answered.
Though she wasn't always with Bai Zihan, she knew almost every movent of his.
Bai Tianheng had also not ntioned it. If Bai Zihan was truly learning alchemy, then he would have surely inford her.
"Well, he will surely appear soday. We just need to keep our eyes open for that."
Mu Qingyuan said.
If such a Grandmaster wanted to hide his identity and now show himself, then they had to make sure to respect his wish..
Only when he was willing to show himself could they try to further their relationship with Bai Zihan's master.
The elders all nodded in agreent.
"So, what shall we do about the news of them breaking through to Grade-4 Alchemist?"
One of the elders asked worriedly.
For a long mont-
No one spoke.
The hall, which had just erupted in shock, now fell into a heavy silence.
Mu Qingyuan's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
His gaze lowered slightly, deep in thought.
The elders exchanged glances.
No one rushed to speak.
Because they all understood the sa thing.
This wasn't sothing to celebrate openly.
Not yet.
Not like before.
If it had only been a breakthrough to Grade-3-
They would have already spread the news across the entire Desolate Heaven Empire.
Just like they did three years ago with Mu Linyue.
Announcing it!
Showing it off!
Increasing their influence!
Letting the world know that the Mu Clan had produced a once-in-a-thousand-years genius.
But Grade-4...?
That was no longer sothing you boast about lightly.
That was dangerous.
Mu Qingyuan's eyes darkened slightly.
"It would be very dangerous if our enemies hear this. Seal the information! This
information mustn't leave the Mu Clan!"
His voice carried absolute authority.
The elders nodded imdiately.
No hesitation.
Because the reasoning was obvious.
Mu Linyue's talent was already monstrous.
Now it had reached a level that could threaten the balance of entire powers.
If this spread-
It wouldn't just attract admiration.
It would attract fear.
And fear...
Would lead to so dangerous action.
Especially from an empire that boasts of being the best in alchemy in the
region-
An empire whose very foundation is built upon alchemy-
The Vermilion Pill Empire!
There, compared to any other profession, including cultivators, the only way to truly gain true recognition and status is through alchemy.
Even if one is in the Immortal Realm, he or she isn't as important or higher in status than a Grade-5 Alchemist.
As for Grade-6 and above, they are almost treated as royalty, possessing imnse influence and power in the Empire.
They also have Grandmaster Alchemists who are the true backbone of the
empire.
Against their words, even those in the Immortal Realm must obey without question.
Due to being full of alchemists, it had also beco a frequent place for rchants to purchase high-quality pills at much lower prices.
This led to their economic rise, and even though militarily they couldn't be compared to the Desolate Heaven Empire, their economy was definitely
stronger.
Their pride...
Their identity...
Their dominance...
All stem from being the undisputed authority in alchemy across the entire
Eastern Region.
For generations, they have stood at the peak.
Unchallenged.
Unshaken.
Which is precisely why-
Mu Linyue's existence is dangerous.
A genius who reaches Grade-4 before the age of twenty....
Even within the Vermilion Pill Empire-
Such a figure has never appeared.
Even if she were to go there, she would be considered an unparalleled genius.
And that is where the danger lies.
Mu Linyue isn't from their empire.
And once such a genius is allowed to grow-
The balance of alchemy might shift.
If Mu Linyue continues forward-
If she surpasses their top alchemists which she has a potential to-
Then the title they have held for so long-
The title of the greatest alchemy empire in the Eastern Region will be taken
from them.
And that is sothing they cannot allow.
She wasn't a threat to a single person or organization, but to an entire empire.
And for such a threat, it was certain that they would resort to assassination. Even if they had to send people into another empire, they would be more than
willing to pay the price.
The probability of such a move was far from low.
Mu Linyue's breakthrough could not be revealed.
Nor could Bai Zihan's.
Because now-
They were no longer just talented juniors.
They were variables that might shape the future of alchemy in the region.
Moreover, it wasn't just external forces they needed to be wary of. There was also a chance of retaliation from clans like the Zhao Clan and Li Clan. Even the Imperial Family couldn't be ruled out.
If the Mu Clan who allied with the Bai Clan further increased their strength,
how could they sit and just watch?
They also definitely target Mu Linyue as well.
Compared to their selfish interest, they didn't care much about national
interest.
So, they needed to make sure that this news didn't get out.
"Yuelan, inform those two to only practice their alchemy in private. They need
to make sure that they don't reveal their talent to others at any cost."
***
On Bai Zihan's side, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The furnace flas burned steadily.
And Bai Zihan had already refined more than 4 High Grade-4 pill.
Each one-
Perfect and flawless.
By now, the shock on everyone's face had long passed.
What remained was silence.
Not the silence of disbelief-
But the silence of focus. Every pair of eyes was fixed on him.
Not a single disciple spoke.
Not a single one dared to miss even a mont.
Everybody was busy watching and trying to learn sothing from Bai Ziahn.
Even those who couldn't fully understand what he was doing still watched
intently, trying to grasp even a fraction of it. Because opportunities like this did not co twice.
One should know that refining Grade-4 pills is extrely difficult and requires
intense focus.
Hence why they are given private rooms, and the opportunity to witness the refining of Grade-4 pills isn't common even in the Mu Clan.
So this was a rare and precious chance for those under Grade-3 Alchemy.
Even Mu Linyue had beco focused.
Her arms, once crossed arrogantly, had long since lowered.
Her gaze was sharp and focused.
All the earlier teasing...
The mockery...
The competitiveness...
Had faded away from her mind.
Replaced by admiration.
Pure and unfiltered.
Because she understood. More than anyone else present-
She understood just how difficult what Bai Zihan was doing truly was.
High Grade-4 pills...
And not just one.
But repeatedly.
As if it required no effort at all.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened slightly.
Her thoughts shifted.
(Such control...)
(Such precision...)
This wasn't sothing one could fake.
Nor sothing achieved overnight.
And slowly-
Her impression of Bai Zihan began to change.
She had always looked down on him.
Not because of who he was-
But because of his attitude.
To her, he had always seed like soone who disdained alchemy.
Soone who didn't understand its depth.
Its beauty.
Its difficulty.
And yet now- Looking at him standing before the furnace...
Completely imrsed. Completely focused.
Not distracted by anything.
Not careless in the slightest- That image shattered.
(His love for alchemy is real... just like mine.)
That was the only conclusion she could co to.
Because talent alone wasn't enough. To reach this level-
To refine pills like this-
One needed dedication and effort.
Countless hours of practice.
On the other hand, Bai Zihan didn't know what Mu Linyue was thinking and was
just excited.
(Looks like Grandmaster Alchemist skill is legit!)
Although he had only refined Grade-4 pills and wasn't even close to knowing
the limits, he knew that it was already quite good.
As for how well he could refine higher-grade pills, he could only try after he
got materials for those.
Footsteps echoed lightly through the hall.
The doors opened.
Mu Yuelan entered.
Her gaze swept across the room once-taking in the furnace, the lingering pill
fragrance... and the stunned expressions on every face.
Then her eyes landed on Bai Zihan. And the pills beside him.
A trace of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
Without wasting ti, she raised her hand.
Two jade tokens appeared.
"I've already arranged private alchemy rooms for both of you."
Her voice was calm as she tossed one to Bai Zihan and one to Mu Linyue.
"As Grade-4 Alchemists, you'll no longer use the public halls."
Both caught the tokens. But before anything else could be said-
Mu Yuelan's expression turned cold.
Her gaze swept across everyone present. "Listen carefully!"
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried absolute weight.
"What you saw today does not leave this room."
Silence!
Instant and complete.
"Not to your friends. Not to your teachers. Not even to your parents."
A few disciples subconsciously stiffened.
Mu Yuelan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"If even a word leaks out... you should know the consequences."
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Everyone present understood.
They nodded imdiately. No one dared take this lightly.
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